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Into every generation, there are Chosen Ones. A Slayer will stand against the vampires, the demon, and the forces of darkness. With each Slayer comes a Guardian. They are protectors of the innocent.    

Day One

Morning - Zoo

A sign pointed to the reptiles, elephants, and the Hyena House. The camera panned down from the sign to Brady, Buffy and Brooke walking along the path by themselves. A group of four friends, Kyle, Rhonda, Tor and Heidi, walked closer.

"Oh, look," Kyle told them tauntingly. "It's Brady, Buffy and Brooke and all their friends."

"That's a witty," Buffy told them.

"Do you ever wonder why nobody cool wants to hang out with you?" Tor asked.

Brooke shook her head. "Just thankful."

"Were you this popular at your old school?" Rhonda asked. "Before you got kicked out?"

The group laughed, as they continued on their way.

"Careful," Tor told them. "They might beat you up."

Brady rolled his eyes, walking along with Buffy and Brooke. At the elephants, they were reading the plague when Alice, Zoey, Willow, Xander, Eric and Carmen walked up to them.

"Hey," Alice told them. "Guys?"

"You missed it," Eric told them.

"Missed what?" Brady asked.

"We just saw the zebras mating," Xander told them. He looked at Alice, nodding. "Thank you. Very exciting."

"It was like the Heimlich," Willow told them. "With stripes."

"And we missed it," Carmen told them with mock disappointment. "Yet somehow we'll find the courage to live on."

They started walking.

Eric looked from Carmen and Zoey to Buffy, Brooke and Brady. "Where you guys?"

"Oh, Carmen and I were looking at the fishes," Zoey answered, pointing at the Summers siblings. "While they were getting rounded by Kyle and his guys."

"Sorry about Kyle," Willow told them. She looked at Carmen and Zoey. "But was it cool for you?"

"It was fishes," Buffy told them. "What's cool about that for anyone?"

"I'm feeling that you're not in the field trip spirit here," Zoey told them.

"Well, it would..." Brooke trailed off. "It's nothing. We do the same zoo trip at our old school every year. Same old, same old."

"Brooke, this isn't just about looking at a bunch of animals," Carmen told her. "This is about not being in class."

Alice smirked. "You know, you're right. Suddenly all of this looks fun. Even for my standards."

Brady smiled. "Gotta have perspective."

  ∞ 

Elsehwere  

Nearby the monkeys, a student named Lance was sketching monkeys into his notebook. Kyle and his cronies approached him.

"Lance," Kyle told him. "How's it going?"

Lance rolled his eyes. "Hey, Kyle."

"So, is this like a, uh, family reunion?" Kyle asked.

"No," Lance answered.

"I think it's a family reunion," Kyle told him. "It's so... touching. Doesn't anybody have a camera?" He made a sudden photo taking gesture. "Whapish!"

Rhonda stood behind Lance. "Hey, does your mom still pick your lice, or are you old enough to do that yourself now?'

"Quit it," Lance told him. Tor took his notebook. "Hey. Guys, come on. It's got my notes in there."

Principal Flutie saw them, walking closer. "What's going on here? I've had it up to here with you four. What're you doing?"

Kyle shook his head. "Nothing."

"Did I ask you to speak?" Flutie asked. "Okay, I guess I did, but I want the truth. Lance?"

Lance seemed nervous about what the four of them would do to him if he ratted on them. "They weren't doing anything. Really." He let out a nervous laugh. "We were just playing around."

"All right," Flutie told them, starting to walk away, but turned back. "I'll be watching you."

Flutie walked away. Heidi stuck out her tongue toward him.

Kyle pointed at Lance. "You. Came through big time."

Rhonda patted his shoulder. "Way to go, Lance."

"Flutie's been looking for a reason to come down on us," Tor told him.

"It's okay," Lance told them.

"Come on," Kyle told him. "We're gonna check out the Hyena House."

"But I think it's off limits," Lance told them.

"And therein, my friend, lies the fun," Kyle told him.

Lance laughed. They all walked off toward the Hyena House, ducking underneath the yellow barricade tape. The Scoobies saw them walk in.

"What are Kyle and his buds doing with Lance?" Willow asked.

"Oh, playing with him as a cat plays with a mouse," Zoey answered.

"What is it with those guys?" Buffy asked.

"They're obnoxious," Alice answered. "Professionally."

"Well, every school has them," Eric told them. "So, you start a new school, you get your desks, some blackboards and some mean kids."

"Yeah, well, we'd better extract Lance before--" Brooke started.

"Xander, Eric and I'll handle it," Brady told them. "This job doesn't require the Slayer, Guardians, a witch, a intimidating Zoey or brilliant Willow."

Xander, Eric and Brady ducked under the tape, walking in.

"You don't think we should follow?" Carmen asked.

"Kyle and those guys are jerks, but they're all talk," Willow told them. "Mostly."

"Why don't we..." Zoey trailed off.

Buffy nodded. "Yeah, why don't we?"

They ducked under the tape and started to go in, but were caught in the act by the zookeeper.

"Oh, hold it, hold it, are you blind, or are you just illiterate?" the zookeeper asked. "Because hyenas are very quick to prey on the weak."

"Oh, we--we were just gonna take--" Brooke started.

"You're not going in there," the zookeeper cut her off. "Anyone that does is in a world of trouble."

Alice shook her head. "No, no one's going in there."

They came back out.

"Why is it off limits?" Carmen asked.

"It's a quarantine," the zookeeper explained. "These hyenas just came in front Africa, so keep out." He raised an eyebrow. "Even if they call your name."

"What are you talking about?" Zoey asked.

"The Masai tribesmen told me that hyenas are capable of understanding human speech," the zookeeper told them. "They follow humans around by day, learning their names. At night, when the campfire dies, they call out to a person. Once they separate him, the pack..." He snapped his fingers. "Devours them."

Alice looked as if she had known that but felt like something was off about the zookeeper, frowning in confusion. The girls looked at the Hyena House.

  ∞ 

Hyena House  

Kyle and his friends and Lance tore through more tape blocking the way in, looking around.

"Cool," Kyle told them.

Kyle, Rhonda and Heidi walked up to the enclosure to look in. Lance stayed back. Tor was behind him.

"I don't see any hyenas," Lance told them. One of the hyenas growled, showing itself between some rocks. "Okay, now we've seen it."

Lance tried to leave, but Tor stopped him.

"Looks cute," Heidi told them.

"I think it looks hungry," Kyle told them, moving toward Lance, helping Tor grab him.

"No!" Lance told them.

"Come on, spot," Tor told him.

"Come on, stop it," Lance told them.

"Supper time!" Tor told him.

Kyle and Tor dragged Lance up to the step, lifting him up to the bars.

Lance struggled in fear. "Guys! Stop! It's not funny!" They pressed him into the bars, down on his neck. "Ow! Stop it! It's not funny!"

Xander, Eric and Brady arrived, pulling the girls away from Lance first. Xander and Brady pulled Tor and Kyle away from Lance, while Eric pulled Lance away from the hyenas. Lance backed away, falling to the ground, out of sight.

Xander looked at Kyle. "Why don't you pick on somebody your own species?"

"What, you three are gonna get in my face?" Kyle asked. "Brady, you might've been all star basketball and football at your old school, but Xander and Eric here are nobodies."

"They're more than you'll ever be," Brady told him.

"Why don't you take a step back?" Eric asked. "Before you see who we really are?"

The hyenas growled, drawing the attention of the boys, Heidi and Rhonda. The hyenas' eyes flashes green, causing their eyes to do the same. Lance stood, running away from the sacred circle painted on the floor, making an anxious get away, tripping on a chair, falling. His notebook skidded across the floor to the far wall. Kyle and his friends turned to laugh when they saw him, like hyenas. Lance got up, retrieving his notebook, running out. Xander, Brady and Eric turned around, smirking. Their eyes flashed green.

∞ Slayers and Guardians ∞ 

Night - Bronze

(Song:) All You Want - Dashboard Prophets

The girls had arrived to the Bronze, walking away from the bar with soda and snacks.

"I thought Xander, Eric and Brady would be here by now," Carmen told them.

"Hmm, that'd make them on time," Buffy told them. "We wouldn't want that."

"Did they seem upset at all on the bus back from the zoo?" Brooke asked.

"About what?" Alice asked.

"I don't know," Brooke told them. "They were quiet."

"We didn't notice anything," Zoey answered. "We're not as hyperaware of the boys as Willow is for, oh, say, for example, Xander."

"Hyperaware?" Willow asked.

"Well, we're not constantly monitoring his health, his moods, his blood pressure," Carmen told her.

Willow grinned. "130 over 80."

Zoey smiled, amused. "You got it bad, girl."

"He makes my head go tingly," Willow told them. "You know what I mean?"

"I dimly recall," Buffy answered.

"But it hasn't happened for the rest of us lately, apparently," Alice told them.

Carmen smirked knowingly, looking at Alice, Brooke and Buffy. "Not yet, anyway."

"What about you, Carmen?" Zoey asked. "Not even for a dangerous and mysterious older man whose leather jacket you're wearing right now?"

Carmen smiled sheepishly, trying to avoid the subject. "It goes with the shoes."

"Come on," Buffy told her. "Angel pushes your buttons. You know he does."

"I suppose some girls might find them good looking," Carmen told them. The girls gave her a look. "If they have eyes. All right, he's a honey, but... it's just he's never around. And when he is, all he wants to do is talk about vampires, and... I--I just can't have a relationship."

Willow looked behind them, smiling. "There he is."

"Angel?" Brooke asked.

"Xander," Willow answered.

Xander walked inside.

Alice looked toward the door as the other two boys followed suit. "And Eric. And Brady."

The boys walked toward them, checking out a girl on the way.

"Girls," Brady told them.

"Boys," Zoey told them with forced enthusiasm.

"Sorry we're late," Xander told them. "We just forgot that we were gonna be here." He saw Zoey's croissant. "Hungry."

Xander tore a piece off and ate it. Zoey gave him a what the hell look.

"Xander, you still want me to help you with geometry tomorrow?" Willow asked.

"And Brady asked me to help him," Alice  told them. Brady took a drink of Alice's Coke. Alice gave him a weird look that he smirked back to. "We can work after class."

Brady nodded. "Yeah."

Xander looked at Zoey. "What is this crap?"

"Well, it was my buttery croissant," Zoey answered.

"Man, we need some food," Eric told them. "Birds live on this." The girls exchanged a look, looking at the three boys. Eric looked between them. "What?"

"What's up with you?" Brooke asked.

"Is something wrong?" Buffy asked. "Did we do something?"

"What could you possibly do?" Eric asked. "That's crazy talk. We're just... restless."

"Well, we could go to the ice cream place," Brooke told them.

Brady pointed to the table. "I like it here."

(Song Ends)

Xander looked up and scanned the area a bit, and then leaned toward Zoey and sniffed her hair.

"Okay, now what?" Zoey asked.

"You took a bath," Xander told her.

Zoey nodded weirdly. "Yeah, I--I often do. I'm actually known for it."

"That's okay," Brady told them.

The girls exchanged a look.

"And the weird behavior award goes to..." Brooke trailed off.

(Song:) Reluctant Man - Sprung Monkey

Xander, Eric and Brady saw Kyle and the others walk in. The girls followed their gaze.

"Oh, great," Buffy told them sarcastically. "It's the winged monkeys."

Kyle and company came over to their table. Xander, Eric and Brady stared back at them. Kyle stopped at their table, and he and the three boys stared each other down. Kyle and company went to another occupied table behind Xander, Eric and Brady.

Kyle looked at the boy at the table. "You know, I don't understand why you're sitting at our table."

"Yeah, shouldn't you be hovering over the football stadium with 'Goodyear' written on you?" Rhonda asked.

They all laughed. Xander, Eric and Brady were watching and laughing, turning back to the girls, no longer laughing when they saw the girls didn't think it was funny.

Brady looked between them. "Kid's fat."

The girls were growing more confused and concerned over their uncharacteristic behavior.

(Song Ends)

  ∞   

Day Two

Morning - Sunnydale High School - Library

Giles was wearing protective gear while Buffy trained on him. Buffy did a roundhouse kick followed by a high punch and a swinging middle punch to Giles' gloved hands.

Meanwhile, Alice and Brooke were training with their Guardian energy. Alice was able to make her energy as sturdy as a fist to deliver a blow to Brooke, who used her energy to shield herself, levitating herself up over Alice to try to kick her from overhead. Alice waved her arms to create a barrier of red energy around herself, which was strong enough to throw Brooke away, but Brooke used her energy to levitate herself to the floor, letting the energy fade.

Wyatt was also here to help Carmen learn more about her powers. Carmen was able to control her telekinesis now more than ever, by throwing things toward Wyatt. Wyatt used his power to deflect them with ease, even creating a pocket portal in front of him to make a knife that Carmen threw at him appear across the room instead, making it shoot into the wall.

Carmen laughed, looking at Wyatt. "Can I get that power?"

Wyatt smirked. "You'll get a lot of powers, Carmen. Mine showed themselves to me one by one over the years. As will yours. You have one power now. I'm sure you'll gain another soon. And then the rest will follow over the years to come. One by one. Like mine did." He looked at Alice, Brooke and Buffy. "Right. I think that's enough training for one day."

Brooke looked at Alice. "Well, that last move of mine of kinda sloppy. Are you sure you don't wanna do it again?"

Alice smiled. "No. No, no, that's fine. You're doing very well, Brooke."

"You all are, actually," Wyatt told them. "Carmen. Alice. Brooke. Buffy. You're all coming along faster than we thought you were going to."

"Are you gonna stick around here more often and act like you have a job here so that you're here when you think you need to be, Wyatt?" Brooke asked.

Wyatt smirked. "I am definitely still thinking about that idea of yours, Brooke."

Carmen smirked knowingly, taking a drink of water.

"All of you should go," Giles told them. "You girls go off to class. Wyatt will remain here for a short while. While we're doing research over the prophecies of the Slayer and Guardians." The girls nodded, walking away. "And while I w wait for the feeling to return to my arms."

Wyatt smirked. "Right. Girls have more fire in fighting than you thought, don't they, mate?"

Giles gave him a look, still out of breath. "Wyatt?"

"What?" Wyatt asked.

"Do shut up," Giles told him, walking away.

Wyatt chuckled.

∞ 

Hallway

Herbert the mascot pig had gotten loose, running down the hallway. Students were startled, trying to get away.

Flutie chased the pig. "Look out. It's gotten loose." Buffy came around the corner, reacting quickly to catch the pig, picking him up. Brooke was net to her. "Lordy, Herbert. Gave Mr. Flutie quite a scare, didn't he? Students, I'd like you all to meet Herbert, our new mascot for the Sunnydale High Razorbacks."

The students clapped halfheartedly.

Brooke smiled. "He's so cute."

"He's not cute," Flutie told tbem. "No. He's a fierce Razorback."

There was more clapping.

"He doesn't look mean, Mr. Flutie," Buffy told him.

"He's mean, and he's ready for action," Flutie told them. "See?" He indicated Herbert's helmet with foam tusks. "Here are the tusks." He gestured to a piece of serrated green foam tied to his back. "The scary Razorback."

Buffy nodded. "You're right. He's a fine mascot and will engender school spirit."

"Uh, he better," Flutie told them. "Costs a fortune to feed him." He looked at Herbert. "All right, let's get you back into your cage." Herbert squealed when Buffy went to hand him to Flutie. Flutie pointed behind himself. "This way."

∞ 

Outside

Willow and Xander were sitting in the courtyard. Willow was helping him with his geometry.

"I'm not getting this," Xander told her.

"It's simple, really," Willow told him. "See, 'the bisector of a vortex is the line that divides the angle  at that vertex into two equal parts'."

"It's like a big blur, all these numbers and angles," Xander told her.

"It's the same stuff from last week," Willow told him. "You had it down then."

"Why do I need to learn this?" Xander asked.

"'Cause otherwise you'll flunk math," Willow answered.

Xander rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Explain the part where that's bad."

Willow nodded patiently. "You remember, you fail math, you flunk out of school, you end up being the guy at the pizza place that sweeps the floor and says, 'Hey, kids, where's the cool parties this weekend?' We've been through this." Xander rubbed his right temple. "Do you have a headache?"

Willow reached out to Xander.

Xander shook her off. "Yeah, and I think I know what's causing it." He threw the geometry book into the trash. "Ah, that's better. It goes right to the source of the pain."

"Xander..." Willow trailed off.

Xander lost his patience. "Look, forget it, okay? I don't get it. I won't ever." He stood. "I don't care."

Xander threw his math notebook into Willow's lap, leaving in a huff.

Willow watched him go, hurt. "We can finish this another time."

∞ 

Inside - Hallway

Buffy followed Flutie to the faculty room with Herbert in her arms, but they stopped in the hall.

"See, the problem is you kids today have no school spirit," Fllutie told her. "Hold on, let me get his outfit off." He removed it. "Today it's all gangs and drugs and those movies on Showtime with nudity." Buffy gave him a look. "I don't have cable, I only heard. When I was your age, we cared about the school's reputation and the football team's record, all that stuff. Of course, when I was your age, I was surrounded by old guys telling me how much better things were when they were my age."

Buffy looked at Herbert. "Yeah."

Eric walked into the hallway, passing by Buffy. Herbert squealed and reacted to his presence as he walked by. Buffy looked confused as she watched Eric pass, trying to keep Herbert from jumping out of her arms.

∞ 

Gym

It was storming outside now. In gym, with everyone dressed out, including the Scoobies, Coach Harrold was pacing between an aisle made on each side of the line. "All right, it's raining, all regular gym classes have been postponed, so you know what that means." He held up a large rubber ball. "Dodgeball." Buffy, Brooke, Willow, Alice, Zoey and Carmen were standing together, smirking. "Now, for those of you that may have forgotten, the rules are as follows. You dodge." Coach tossed the ball to Zoey, blowing his whistle. The two groups backed away from center court. Coach whistled again, and the ball throwing commenced. Xander, Eric and Brady were on the other team, with Lance, Kyle and the others, and they all nailed their first victims. Buffy, Brooke, Alice, Zoey, Willow and Carmen easily dodged the balls. The coach enjoyed the game from the sidelines. Xander nailed another victim. Zoey threw a ball, hitting her mark. Eric threw again, nailing Willow hard on the back. Willow gave her brother a hurt and confused look as she walked off of the court. Eric caught a ball as he watched Willow go, but soon continued the game. Willow sat down, crossing her arms over her chest. Brady threw a ball toward Zoey. Zoey ducked, throwing a ball at another guy, hitting her mark. Tor threw a ball toward Carmen. Carmen ducked, the ball hitting a student behind her. A few seconds later, just Xander, Eric, Brady, Kyle, Tor, Rhonda, Heidi and Lance were left on one side. Buffy, Brooke, Alice, Zoey and Carmen were on the other. Xander, Eric, Brady, Kyle and his friends, each with a ball in hand, looking at the girls, but they all turned to Lance, each throwing a ball at him. Lance fell to the floor, cowering as they each threw their ball at him. Alice ran over, holding a hand toward Lance. Lance took it, letting her help him up. The girls looked at Xander, Eric and Brady in absolute confusion, who looked at them expressionlessly, turning around, walking away, leaving. Kyle and his friends followed them. Coach had been watching in silent awe. "God, this game is brutal. I love it."

∞ 

Hallway

The girls walked into the hallway. Brady, Xander and Eric walked into the hallway with Kyle and his friends.

Willow walked up to Xander and Eric. "Xander? Eric? What's wrong with you?"

Eric looked at the others briefly, pulling Willow aside. "I guess you've noticed that we've been different around you lately."

Willow nodded. "Yes."

"I think, um..." Eric trailed off. "I think we're splitting from your pack. The Scoobies. We've decided to drop all of you. Which means we won't have to look at your pasty faces again."

The boys, Kyle and his friends all laughed. Willow and the other girls were hurt, annoyed.

Brady patted Eric on the shoulder. "Get them, Eric. Tell them all."

They laughed.

Alice slammed her locker, approaching the boys, crossing her arms over her chest. "You gonna say something to the rest of us? About how you're dropping all of us?"

Brady just looked at Alice, smirking, starting to laugh, louder than before. The others laughed with him. They walked away.

∞ 

Outside

The pack (Xander, Eric, Brady and Kyle and his friends) walked along.

Brady stopped, sniffing the air. "Dogs."

"Where?" Eric asked.

Brady led them to a group of three boys sitting at a table.

"You're out of your mind," Boy 1 told them. "That's no way to play guitar."

"What are you talking about?" Boy 2 asked.

"I mean, that's just hunt and peck," Boy 1 told him.

"It's not," Boy 2 told him.

"Hey, Brady, you've heard Wretched Refuse play," Boy 1 told him. "What do you think of the guy who plays lead?" Tor reached for Boy 1's hot dog. Heidi took Boy 2's hot dog. "Hey. Hey, what are you guys..."

"Shut up," Xander told them.

"You're sharing," Eric told them.

Brady smirked. "Friends like to share." He looked at Tor and Heidi. "Good?"

Tor shook his head. "It's too well done."

They threw the rest of the hot dog back on the lunch.

"Hey, that is not cool," Boy 1 told them.

Brady sniffed the air, looking in the scent's direction, leading them off. Eric climbed onto the table, stomping on the boys' lunches. The pack followed Brady.

∞ 

Inside - Faculty Room

The pack walked in, inhaling deeply through their noses. Tor and Kyle closed the blinds. They all approached the cage.

Brady leaned down to look at Herbert. "Let's do lunch."

The pig became nervous, scared, squealing.

  ∞ ∞

Outside

(Song:) Job's Eyes - Far

Xander, Brady, Eric and the pack came walking in slow motion up the stairs from below to the quad. Several students stared at them as they walked by, while they checked out people around them. Lance walked by, just stopping in front of them. They looked at him, sniffing him, but they kept walking right by. Xander, Brady and Eric noticed the girls sitting and talking on the balcony above. Their hearing had became so sensitive that they could hear them.

(Song Ends)

On the balcony, the girls were talking. Willow had tears in her eyes.

"This doesn't make any sense," Zoey told them. "Willow, Carmen and I've known Xander our whole lives. Eric is Willow's brother. Brady is Buffy and Brooke's. Why would they hang out with the dode patrol?"

"And do all of that to us?" Carmen asked. "Because we think something's wrong with them."

"We're trying to figure it out," Brooke told them.

"What are you gonna do?" Carmen asked.

Alice sighed. "Talk to the experts on weird other than myself."

∞ 

Library

The girls were now talking to Giles and Wyatt.

Giles was going about his work. "Xander, Eric and Brady have taken to teasing the less fortunate?"

"Uh-huh," Carmen answered.

"And there's been a noticeable change in both clothing and demeanor?" Giles asked.

"Yes," Brooke answered.

"And, well, otherwise all their spare time is spent lounging about with imbeciles," Giles told them.

"It's bad, isn't it?" Zoey asked.

"It's devastating," Wyatt told them. "They've turned into 16 year old boys. Of course, we'll have to kill them."

Brooke gave him a look. "Wyatt, we're serious."

"So am I," Wyatt told them. "Except for the part about killing them."

"Testosterone is a great equalizer," Giles told them. "It turns all men into morons. They will, however, get over it."

Buffy gave them an exasperated look. "I cannot believe that you, of all people, are trying to Scully us."

"There is something supernatural at work here," Carmen told them, grabbing some books. "Get your books. Look stuff up."

Giles took the books. "Look under what?"

Brooke sighed. "We don't know. That's your department. And Wyatt and Alice's."

"The evidence that you've presented us with is sketchy at best," Giles told them.

Buffy remembered something. "Eric scared the pig." Giles gave her a look. "Well, he did."

"Boys can be cruel," Wyatt told them. "They tease, they prey on the weak. It's natural teen behavior pattern."

"What did you just say?" Alice asked.

"Um, they tease," Wyatt answered.

"They prey on the weak," Alice finished. "We've heard that before. Xander, Eric and Brady have been acting completely off ever since we went to the zoo."

"Brady, Eric, Xander and Kyle and all those guys," Zoey agreed. "They went into the hyena cage. Oh, God. That laugh..."

"You're saying that, uh, Xander, Brady and Eric have become hyenas?" Giles asked.

"I don't know," Carmen told them. "Or been possessed by some? Not just Xander, Brady and Eric. All of them."

"Well, I've certainly never heard of, uh..." Giles trailed off.

Willow ran inside. "Herbert. They found him."

"The pig?" Buffy asked.

Willow nodded. "Dead. And also eaten. Principal Flutie's freaking out."

Alice looked at her father. "Testosterone, huh?"

Giles walked toward his office.

"What're you gonna do?" Brooke asked.

"Get my books," Giles answered. "Look stuff up."

∞ 

Outside

Flutie was walking angrily, seeing Kyle and his friends, approaching them. "You four."

"What?" Kyle asked.

"Oh, don't think I don't know," Flutie told them. "Three kids saw you outside Herbert's room. You're busted. Yeah. You're going down."

"How is Herbert?" Rhonda asked.

Heidi smiled. "Crunchy."

They laughed.

Flutie was incensed. "That's it. My office, right now." They laughed more. "Now!" They stopped laughing. Kyle stood, indicating for the others to follow. "You're gonna have so much detention, your grandchildren will be staying after school."

∞ 

Library

The girls were sitting at the tables, researching.

Zoey looked at her book. "Wow. Apparently Noah rejected the hyenas from the Ark because he thought they were an evil impure mixture of dog and cats."

"Hyenas aren't well liked," Wyatt told them.

"They do seem to be the schmoes of the animal kingdom," Buffy told them.

"Why couldn't Brady, Eric and Xander be possessed by puppies?" Brooke asked. "Or some ducks?"

"That's assuming possession is the right word," Carmen told them.

Giles walked out of the cage, reading a book. "Oh, I'll say it is. The Masai of the Serengeti have spoken of animal possession for--for generations. I--I should have remembered that."

"Well, why didn't bookworm Alice remember it, either?" Buffy asked.

"I'm not the Watcher," Alice answered. "I'm the Guardian out of the two of us, remember?"

"Right," Buffy agreed. "So of course Giles knows more than you."

"But Alice still knows a lot," Carmen told them.

Brooke looked at Giles. "So, how does it work?"

"Well, apparently, there's a--a sect of animal worshipers known as Primals," Giles explained. "They believe that humanity, uh, consciousness, uh, the soul, is a--is a perversion, a dilution of spirit. Uh, to them the animal state is holy. They are able, through trans-possession, to--to, um, draw the spirit of certain animals into themselves."

"And then they started acting like hyenas," Zoey told them.

"Well, only the most predatory of animals are--are of interest to the Primals, so, uh, yes, that would fit," Giles answered. "Yes."

"So, what happens to the person once the spirit's in them?" Wyatt asked.

Giles showed them a book. "If it goes unchecked..."

Wyatt looked at the photo, worriedly showing the girls. Buffy, Brooke and Alice immediately stood, starting to walk toward the door.

"Where are they going?" Carmen asked.

"To find Brady, Eric and Xander," Wyatt answered.

Zoey picked up the book, opening it to the bookmark. There was a drawing of people with limbs bitten off, heads missing and other massive injuries.

Willow tried to take the book. "Zoey, let me see."

Zoey took it, closing it quickly, holding it away from her. "Nothing you need to see. You're freaking out about Eric, Xander and Brady as it is. Why add more to the fuel? I'd rather not."

Carmen sighed. "It's bad. Which means Brooke, Buffy and Alice need my help. And Wyatt's."

Carmen and Wyatt walked out of the library.

∞ 

Faculty Room

Buffy found Herbert's cage mangled, looking around, inspecting the cage. "They are strong." She stepped on something that crunched, crouching down to the floor, finding parts of Herbert, some vertebrae and other bones. She picked up a rib. Eric walked in, standing behind her. Buffy stood, turning around, startled. "Eric." She tried to evade him, but he was quick to match her movement. Buffy sighed. "This is ridiculous. We need to talk."

Buffy turned around as if she would walk away, turning back to Eric, tackling him to the floor, landing when she had him pinned on the floor.

Eric smiled. "Been waiting for you to jump my bones."

∞ 

Flutie's Office

Flutie was standing in front of his desk, lecturing Kyle and his friends. "I have seen some sick things in my life, believe me. But this is beyond the pale. What is it with you people?" They started to whine and stalk him. "Is it drugs? How could you? A poor defensively pig?" Flutie noticed their behavior. "What are you doing?"

∞ 

Cafeteria

Alice was looking around in the cafeteria, knowing that Brady had to be close by, turning around, only to be blindsided by Brady when he pinned her to the floor from the side, having her arms pinned down.

"Go on, Alice," Brady told her. "Try to use your energy on me now. You won't, will you? Too afraid of hurting me?"

"Get off of me," Alice told him.

"Is that what you really want?" Brady asked. Alice struggled a bit. "We both know what you really want. Danger. You. The Slayers and Guardians. You're all destined for danger. Around every corner of your lives."

Alice struggled, but didn't want to hurt him. "You're in trouble, Brady. You are infected with hyena, demonic possession."

"Your lives," Brady told her. "Dangerous and mean. Well, guess who just got mean."

Brady moved in to kiss Alice roughly on the neck. Alice struggled to get her hands free, using her energy to grab Brady and throw him off of her, into the wall, making him fall, standing.

∞ 

Flutie's Office

Flutie was going around behind his desk to get away from Kyle and his friends, but they got closer. "Now, stop that! You're only gonna make things worse for yourselves. I tell you how this is gonna work. I am gonna call your parents, and they are gonna take you all home." He reached for his phone, but Tor got his hands on it first, staring him down. Flutie glared at him for a moment, gesturing to be given the phone. Tor gave it to him. "Thank you."

Flutie started to pull the phone toward himself to dial.

Rhonda tore it away from him, throwing it off the desk. "I'm sorry."

Flutie looked at them furiously. "That is it!"

Flutie tried to get past them, but Kyle growled at him, pushing him back into his chair.

∞ 

Faculty Room

Eric pushed Buffy off of him, standing. "Do you know how long... I've waited... until you'd stop pretending that we aren't attracted?"

"Look, Eric, I don't wanna hurt you," Buffy told him.

Eric grabbed Buffy by the shoulders, pushing her against the vending machine. "Now do you wanna hurt me?" Buffy struggled, but possessed Eric was too strong. "Come on, Slayer. I like it when you're scared. The more I scare you..." Eric inhaled deeply. "The better you smell."

Buffy was able to break free with her Slayer strength, pushing Eric back.

∞ 

Hallway

Wyatt and Carmen were walking through the hallways to find Xander and use their power to get him calmed down, while Brooke went to help Buffy and Alice with Eric and Brady. Xander lunged toward Wyatt and Carmen, but they could easily use their power to stop him. While Carmen was hesitant to hurt Xander, Wyatt was able to knock him out with his power without problem.

∞ 

Flutie's Office

Kyle and his friends continued to taunt Flutie and sniff him.

"You're about this close to explosion, people," Flutie told them, standing. "I'm willing to talk to the school counselor, and we can discuss options." He tried to go again, but Heidi stopped him. Tor climbed onto his desk, growling. "Get down from there this instant!" Rhonda scratched Flutie in the cheek with her nails, making him fall into his chair with his hand covering his face. Flutie took his hand away, seeing the blood, now terrified. "Are you insane?"

Tor jumped on Flutie from the desk, and the others descended on him and began feeding. The camera closed in on a picture of Flutie on the desk.

∞ ∞

Library

Willow was watching footage of feeding hyenas on the computer. Zoey was sitting nearby. They heard the door open, turning toward it. Brooke and Alice were using their Guardian energy to carry the unconscious Brady, Eric and Xander in, making them levitate above the floor. Wyatt used his power to open the book cage.

"Hurry up," Brooke told them. "We gotta get them locked up somewhere before they come to."

Willow stood. "Oh, my God, guys. What happened?"

"We knocked them out," Brooke answered. They put the unconscious boys in the cage. "Eric and Brady tried their hands at felony sexual assault on Buffy and Alice."

Zoey sighed worriedly. "Oh, Buffy, Alice, the hyena in them didn't..."

"No," Alice answered. "No, but it's safe to say that in their animal state, their idea of wooing doesn't involve a Yanni CD and a bottle of Chianti."

They walked out of the cage.

Wyatt closed the cage door, locking it. "There. That ought to hold them. Where's Giles?"

"He got called to some teacher's meeting," Zoey answered.

"What are we gonna do?" Carmen asked. "I mean, how do we get Brady, Eric and Xander back?"

Giles walked in.

"Right now, I'm a little more worried about what the rest of the pack are up to," Buffy told them.

Brooke gave Buffy a look. "Granted, we're still worried about getting our brother Brady back. And Eric and Xander."

"The rest of the pack were spotted outside Herbert the mascot's cage," Giles told them. "They were sent to the principal's office."

"Good," Willow told them. "That'll show them."

"Did it show them?" Alice asked.

Giles sighed, remaining silent, searching for what to say.

"They didn't hurt him, did they?" Brooke asked.

"They, uh, ate him," Giles answered.

Willow had to sit down. No one could believe what they had just heard.

"They ate Principal Flutie?" Alice asked.

"Ate him up?" Carmen asked.

"They, uh, official theory is that wild dogs got into his office somehow," Giles explained. "There was no one at the scene."

"But Eric, Brady and Xander didn't," Zoey told him. "Buffy, Brooke, Alice, Carmen and Wyatt brought them here."

Giles saw the boys in the cage. "Oh. Uh, well, that's a small mercy."

"Giles?" Brooke asked. "Alice? Wyatt, how do we stop this?"

Buffy nodded. "How do you trans-possess someone?"

"I--I'm afraid we still don't have all the pieces," Wyatt told them.

"Um, the accounts of the Primals and their methods are a bit thin on the ground," Giles told them. He thought, picking up a book. "There is some talk of a predatory act, but the exact ritual is--is, um, the Malleus Maleficarum deals in particulars of demonic possession, which may apply..."

"It means we should be able to transfer the spirits to another human," Wyatt explained.

"Oh, great," Zoey told them sarcastically. "Any volunteers?"

"Good point," Wyatt told her.

"What we need to do is put the hyena back in the hyena," Carmen told them.

"But until we know more, uh..." Alice trailed off. "Bet you that zookeeper could tell us. Maybe he didn't quarantine those hyenas because they were sick."

"We should talk to him," Carmen told them.

"Okay," Buffy told them. "Oh, wait. Somebody's gotta watch the boys."

"Zoey and I will," Willow told them.

"Will, Zo, are you sure?" Brooke asked. "If they wake up..."

"We'll be all right," Zoey told them. "Go."

After a moment's hesitation, Wyatt handed the keys to Zoey. "Come on."

Willow and Zoey watched the others go, looking over to the boys in the cage. Zoey slipped the keys into her pocket.

∞ 

Night - Street

A young woman with her baby in a backpack walked through some bushes, seeing Kyle and his friends lying on the ground, sleeping after  their meal. They woke up, seeing the woman, who became panicky and slowly backed away, almost stepping on Tor. The woman suddenly turned when she heard him growl. They slowly crawled toward her. The woman turned and ran away. The pack lied back down to rest some more.

∞ 

Sunnydale High School - Library

The boys woke up in the cage, seeing who was watching them.

"Willow?" Xander asked. "Zoey?"

Willow was watching the hyena video again. She stopped it, turning to look at them. "How are you feeling?"

Zoey walked closer.

"Like we got beaten up by a Slayer, two Guardians and two witches," Xander answered. "What are we doing here?"

Willow stood, walking closer, standing next to Zoey. "You're... resting."

"You guys got us locked up now," Xander told them.

"'Cause you're sick," Zoey told them. "Buffy, Brooke, Alice, Wyatt and Carmen said--"

"Oh, yeah," Xander told them. "Buffy, Brooke, Alice, Wyatt, Carmen and their all purpose solution. Punch them out, knock them down. I'd love to see what they'd do to somebody who was really sick."

"That's not fair," Willow told them. "Buffy, Brooke, Alice, Wyatt and Carmen saved all of our lives."

"But before there were Slayers and Guardians and witches, our lives didn't need that much saving, did they, Willow?" Eric asked. "Did they, Zoey? Weren't things a lot simpler when we were a lot simpler? Back when Buffy, Brooke, Alice, Wyatt and Carmen didn't have to save us all the time."

"Maybe," Zoey answered.

"When we're together..." Eric trailed off. "We know we're stronger. Zoey, Willow, we know there's something wrong with us. I think it's getting worse."

"Zoey, Willow, we can't just stand around waiting for Buffy, Brooke, Alice, Wyatt and Carmen to decide it's time to punch us out again," Brady told them. "Look, we want you to help us. We want you."

"We are helping you," Willow told them.

Brady scoffed, smirking. "You're doing what you're told."

"They're trying to help you, too," Zoey told them. "You know that. Or Brady, Eric and Xander do."

Xander nodded. "Yeah, they're so selfless. Always thinking of us. Well, if we're so dangerous, how come they left you alone with us?"

"We told them to," Willow answered.

"Why?" Brady asked.

"'Cause they need to be able to know how to fight this thing," Willow answered. "Because Zoey and I can watch you. While they do the fighting."

"And maybe to see if you were still you," Zoey added.

"You know we are," Eric told them. "Look at us. Look."

They walked closer, testing them. Eric made a grab for Zoey through the book return slot to try to take the key from her.

Zoey backed away, smirking knowingly. "Now we know."

The boys banged on the cage, yelling. "Let me out! Let me out!"

∞ 

Zoo - Zookeeper's Office

The others were talking to the zookeeper.

"The students have been possessed by the hyenas?" the zookeeper asked.

"Yes," Alice answered.

"Are you sure?" the zookeeper asked.

"We're really, really sure," Carmen answered.

"Y--you don't seem enormously surprised by this," Giles realized.

"The zoo imported those hyenas from Africa," the zookeeper explained. "There was something strange about them from day one. I did some homework. That particular breed is very rare. Totally vicious. Historically they were worshiped by these guys..."

"Primals," Alice told him.

"Yeah," the zookeeper answered. "Creepy guys. Now, they had rituals for taking the hyena spirits, but I don't see how that could have happened to your kids."

"Uh, we don't know exactly how the ritual works," Wyatt told him. "We know that it involves a, um, predatory act and some kind of symbol."

"Predatory act?" the zookeeper repeated. "Of course. That makes sense. Where did you read that?"

"Do you have Sherman Jeffries' work on--on cults and on--" Giles started.

"Boys?" Buffy asked impatiently.

"Sorry," Giles told them.

"Look, I think we may have enough information so that together we could pull off a reverse trans possession," the zookeeper told them.

"What do we do?" Carmen asked.

"We've gotta get those possessed students over to the hyena cage right away," the zookeeper told them. "I'll meet you there. We can begin the rituals."

"Well, we can guarantee three of them," Buffy told him. "But there are four more. And we have no idea where they are."

"No, I wouldn't worry about that," the zookeeper told them. "After hyenas feed and rest, they will track the missing members of their pack until they find them. They should come right to you."

Brooke realized the danger, looking at the others worriedly. "Zoey. Willow."

∞ 

Sunnydale High School - Library

Zoey and Willow were watching the hyena video again to tune the boys out while they paced in the cage.

"Zoey..." Brady trailed off. "Willow..."

"We're not listening," Willow told them.

"Zoey, Willow, come on," Eric told them.

Xander sighed. "Zoey. Willow."

"Shut up," Zoey replied.

In the small arched windows high up on the wall, Kylie, Tor, Heidi and Rhonda appeared at the windows, saying Zoey and Willow's names.

∞ ∞

Kyle and his friends repeated Zoey and Willow's names.

Zoey turned to look at the boys in the cage in annoyance. "Shut up."

Kyle and friends repeated Zoey and Willow's names, but both girls were looking at Brady, Eric and Xander, realizing that they weren't saying their names. The boys were looking behind them in amusement. Zoey and Willow turned to follow their gaze, looking at Kyle and his friends at the windows, standing instantly. 

Zoey instantly reached for Willow's hand. "Willow!"

Willow took Zoey's hand.

Kyle and Heidi kicked the windows in. Zoey and Willow ran toward the double doors, into the hall. The rest of the pack came in as the boys kicked and pounded at the cage. The others managed to bend over the corner of the door, pulling the door down, freeing the boys. They all whined and sniffed each other. Brady looked toward the library doors, beginning to track Zoey and Willow. The others followed.

∞ 

Hallway

Zoey and Willow heard the banging on the cage, stopping at the intersection of the hallways.

Willow ran toward a door, trying to open it, but it didn't budge. "Locked." Zoey and Willow tried several doors but they were locked. Willow found another door that was open. "Zoey!"

Zoey and Willow ran into the room. The pack reached the hall intersection, sniffing around for their scent.

∞ 

Classroom

Zoey opened the closet door, but it was only wide enough for one, cluttered. She looked at Willow, pointing toward the desk. Willow nodded, running toward it quietly, kneeling to the floor, hiding under the desk. Zoey hid inside the closet, closing it silently behind her, looking around for a weapon.

∞ 

Hallway

The pack split up to search for Zoey and Willow. Xander, Eric and Brady walked down the hall, sniffing. They looked at the door that Zoey and Willow had went through, going into the classroom.

∞ 

Classroom

In the closet, Zoey heard the door open, grabbing a folding chair silently. She heard the door close, opening the closet door, the folding metal chair still in her hand. Willow stood from behind the desk. Xander, Brady and Eric stood in the middle of the classroom between them. Xander launched toward Willow. Willow screamed. Zoey hit Xander hard enough with the chair to make him back away into the blinds, slamming the chair into Brady's head, pushing it into Eric's chest. Eric tore the chair from her grasp. Zoey backed away toward Willow, grabbing her arm. They went to run. Zoey pushed the desk toward the boys to distract them, making them trip over it, backing away as she continued tipping over the desks so they couldn't get to them, turning toward the door. Willow opened it. The rest of the pack stood outside. Red Guardian energy suddenly appeared around the rest of the pack, throwing them down the hallway, just as Alice and Brooke walked into view, with Wyatt, Carmen, Buffy and Giles following.

∞ 

Hallway

Zoey and Willow ran into the hall to join their friends. Xander, Brady and Eric ran toward them. Wyatt and Carmen used their magic to throw them to the floor.

"Run!" Alice told them.

They ran back into the classroom.

∞ 

Classroom

Alice and Brooke used their red Guardian energy to keep the door closed long enough for them and the others to come up with a plan. The pack pounded at the door but couldn't get in and soon left.

"I think they're going," Carmen told them. "They could be faking it."

"No, they're hungry," Alice told them. "They'll be looking for someone weak."

"Zoey, Willow, we're really sorry," Brooke told them. "We didn't know they were gonna come after Brady, Eric and Xander."

Willow was shaken. "It's okay."

Zoey nodded.

"We must lead them back to the zoo if we're going to stop this," Giles told them.

"And before their next meal," Carmen told them.

"Guess that's our job," Wyatt told them.

"Well, individually, they're almost as strong as Buffy," Alice told them. "As a group they're..."

"They're tough, but I think they're getting stupider," Buffy told them. "Brooke, Alice, Wyatt, Carmen and I can handle getting the pack to follow us to you."

Brooke nodded in agreement. "Giles, Zoey, Willow, you go to the zoo. We'll bring them to you."

Carmen nodded. "Let's get it done."

They all went to do as said.

∞ 

House - Outside

A family was heading to their car, the Andersons.

Mr. Anderson looked at his wife. "I didn't say she looks better than you. I said she looks better."

"I heard what I heard," Mrs. Anderson told him. She looked at their son. "Joey, chew. You have to chew or you'll choke."

They got into their car.

"I don't see why we have to have this conversation every time we see them," Mr. Anderson told her.

"I didn't start it," Mrs. Anderson told him, putting on her seatbelt.

Mr. Anderson looked at the ignition. "Damn. Where are the keys?"

"Huh?" Mrs. Anderson asked.

They heard Joey's name being called from outside, beginning to look around. Kyle looked down from the car roof, into Joey's window. Mrs. Anderson screamed. Tor, Heidi and Rhonda were on the roof, shaking the car. Xander, Eric and Brady were on the ground, pushing the car around.

"What's going on?" Mr. Anderson demanded. "Hey, get off! Get out of here!"

Brady broke the window with his elbow.

"Get away!" Joey told them.

Xander growled, reaching in for Joey.

Mrs. Anderson reached back to try to protect him. "Joey! Joey! Joey!"

Buffy came running up, grabbing Rhonda, throwing her off of the hood to the ground. Brooke and Alice let their Guardian energy fade as they levitated themselves to the ground, using the energy to throw the rest of Kyle's friends and Kyle himself off the car. Carmen and Wyatt ran closer, using their magic to throw Xander, Brady and Eric down next to them.

"Didn't your mom teach you?" Carmen asked. "Don't play with your food."

The pack all looked up at them.

Buffy straightened up, putting her hands on her hips. "Come on. You know what you want."

"Come and get us," Wyatt told them. "If you can. If you're not too scared."

Brooke and Alice started to use their red energy to levitate themselves, Buffy, Carmen and Wyatt away. The pack followed them at a run.

∞ 

Zoo - Hyena House - Outside

Giles, Willow and Zoey ran toward the Hyena House.

"The pathway to the Hyena House," Willow told them. "Where's the zookeeper?"

"Uh, he must be inside," Zoey told him. "Giles, go in. Prepare things. We'll warn you when we hear Buffy, Brooke, Carmen, Alice and Wyatt leading the pack here."

Giles nodded, running inside. Zoey and Willow turned around to watch and wait.

∞ 

Hyena House

Giles ducked under the tape, coming into the main area. "Doctor? Uh, zookeeper?" He heard a door close, startled by the zookeeper, who was all made up. "Oh, of course, the, uh, Masai ceremonial garb. Yes, very good. Are you, uh, otherwise prepared for the trans-possession?"

The zookeeper nodded. "Almost."

Giles noticed the markings on the floor. "Oh, right, the, uh, sacred circle. Yes, you'd need that to, um... this would be here when--when the children first came. Why would you..." He figured out, sighing. "How terribly frustrating for you, that a bunch of school children could accomplish what you could not."

The zookeeper nodded in agreement. "It bothered me. But the power will be mine."

Giles tried to get away, but the zookeeper hit him in the gut with his stuff, and again on the back of the head, knocking him out. He tossed the staff aside, dragging Giles away.

∞ 

Outside

Buffy, Brooke, Alice, Carmen and Wyatt were still leading the pack to the hyena house. Willow and Zoey heard them coming.

∞ 

Inside

Zoey and Willow ran inside.

"They're almost here," Willow called. "Giles?"

"Giles?" Zoey asked. They saw the zookeeper. "Where are the hyenas for the trans-possession?"

"They're right here in the feeding area," the zookeeper answered. Willow ran to see the hyenas, but he stopped her. "Stay back. They haven't been fed."

"Where's Giles?" Willow asked.

"He's... laying in wait," the zookeeper answered.

"They're almost here," Zoey told him, walking closer. "Shouldn't you bring the hyenas out?"

"When the time is right," the zookeeper told them. "I'm gonna need your help."

The zookeeper took Willow and Zoey's hands, placing them behind their backs and started to bind their wrists with rope, without warning.

They heard Wyatt outside. "They're right behind us!"

"That's Wyatt," Willow told them. "Get ready."

The zookeeper took Willow, positioning her in front of him. "Here."

"What is this?" Zoey asked suspiciously.

"A predatory act, remember?" the zookeeper asked, holding a knife to Willow's throat.

"Uh, right," Willow said. "You'll pretend to slash my throat, and--and put the evil in the hyenas?"

"Something like that," the zookeeper told them.

They looked at him in realization. Zoey took a step toward them, but with her hands tied behind her back, couldn't do much when the zookeeper pushed her away, making her land badly on the floor. Buffy, Brooke, Wyatt, Alice and Carmen ran in, stopping short when they saw Willow being held by the zookeeper and Zoey on the floor.

"Guys, it's a trap!" Zoey told them.

Brady, Eric, Xander, Kyle, Tor, Heidi and Rhonda grabbed Buffy, Brooke, Wyatt, Alice and Carmen from behind, making them fall to the floor next to Zoey. The pack tried to feed on Zoey, Buffy, Brooke, Wyatt, Alice and Carmen, but Brooke, Wyatt, Alice and Carmen held them back with their power, while Zoey struggled to get away, hitting them with her bound hands and kicking at them.

The zookeeper chanted. "Ya ba ya sa na!"

The pack looked up at him, and their eyes all flashed green. The zookeeper's eyes flashed green. He turned to Willow, growling, dropping the knife, grabbing her head, trying to bite her.

Eric was himself again, horrified and angry with his sister's life on the line. "Willow!"

Eric ran closer, pushing the zookeeper down and away from Willow. Brady and Xander stood, helping Buffy, Brooke, Alice, Wyatt, Carmen and Zoey stand. Kyle and his friends backed away. The zookeeper stood, punching Eric. Buffy stood, running closer, pushing the zookeeper away from Eric. Kyle and his friends saw the fight, sliding away. The zookeeper ran toward the others. Brooke used her Guardian energy to throw him down. The zookeeper stood, running toward Alice. Alice used her Guardian energy to twist and turn around the zookeeper, making him freeze in place, slamming him from wall to wall, to the ceiling to the floor. The zookeeper stood, running toward them. Carmen used her power to throw him toward Wyatt. Wyatt used his power to throw him into the hyena pit. The zookeeper tried to climb out, but was dragged back down by the hyenas. Kyle and his friends stood and scrambled away. The others ran to the pit to see if they could save the zookeeper, but it was too late. They looked away. Carmen used her power to untie Zoey and Willow, freeing them instantly.

Brady was completely in shock. "Uh... You guys okay?"

Alice nodded. "Yeah. You guys?"

Eric, Xander and Brady didn't know the answer to that.

Giles walked out of the backroom. "Uh, did I miss anything?"

The others gave him a look that said, Oh, yeah.

∞ 

Day Three

Morning - Sunnydale High School - Balcony

The Scoobies were walking along.

"I heard the vice principal's taking over till they can find a replacement," Brooke told them.

"It shouldn't be too hard to find a new principal," Carmen told them. "Unless they ask what happened to the last one."

"Okay, but we had nothing to do with that, right?" Xander asked.

"Oh, right," Buffy answered.

"You only ate the pig," Zoey told them.

"We ate a pig?" Xander asked. "Was it cooked and called bacon, or..." They shook their heads. Xander covered his face. "Oh, my God. We ate a pig? I mean, the whole trichinosis issue aside, yuck."

"Well, it wasn't really you," Brooke told them.

"Well, I remember I was going on the field trip, and then going down to the hyena house, and next thing, some guy's holding Willow and he's got a knife," Eric told them.

"You saved my life," Willow told him.

"Hey, nobody messes with my sister," Eric told her, wrapping his arms around her.

Willow smiled, hugging Eric tightly. "Glad I got my real brother Eric back."

Buffy and Brooke both hugged Brady.

"Trust me..." Brooke trailed off.

"Me and Brooke are thrilled to have our brother Brady back, too," Buffy finished.

They all smiled.

"This is definitely the superior Xander, Eric and Brady," Carmen told them. "Accept no substitutes."

"We didn't do anything else, did we?" Eric asked. "Around you guys or anything embarrassing?"

They smiled.

Zoey considered what to tell them, shaking her head. "Nah."

"Not at all," Brooke told them.

Buffy looked at the girls. "Come on. We're gonna be late."

Buffy took Brooke and Zoey's hands, leading them away. Willow and Carmen followed.

"I'll catch up," Alice told them.

"Okay," Brooke told her.

Carmen looked at the boys. "See you at lunch."

"Cool," Xander told them. "Oh, hey, going vegetarian, huh?"

The boys gave them two thumbs up, but couldn't believe what had happened to them or what they did. The other girls turned to give them smiles, turning around, walking away. Xander and Eric walked away.

Alice turned to look at Brady. "I've been reading up on my, uh, animal possession. And I cannot find anything anywhere about memory loss afterwards."

"Did you tell them that?" Brady asked.

Alice shook her head, leaning closer to whisper in his ear. "Your secret dies with me."

Brady nodded. "Shoot me, stuff me, mount me. Alice, I am so--"

Alice put a hand on his arm to stop him, shaking her head. "You were possessed, Brady. An animal/demonic possession. Literally. So was Eric. It wasn't you. And it wasn't Eric. Buffy and I don't blame either of you. And you shouldn't blame yourselves. Got it?"

Brady nodded, still feeling incredibly guilty, but knowing that it hadn't been him in control. "Got it. I'll see you later, I guess."

Alice nodded, smiling kindly. "See you then."

Brady started to walk away, still beating himself up about what happened. Alice leaned on the railing, watching him go sympathetically, sighing, turning around, walking away in the other direction.