Title: The Pack

Author: Charisma Brendon

Rating: R? I might do an NC-17 rewrite of this.

Disclaimer: I make no money from this. I own nothing but some gum. The beginning dialogue (until Buffy speaks) comes straight from the episode.

Spoilers: The Pack and possibly any of the five episodes before. But . . . since this is a rewrite, there aren't as many as there could be.

A.N. - This was written especially for Kris's awards so she could start them sooner.

You're not going in there, the zookeeper had told her.

Please, like I'm leaving Xander and Lance alone with those . . . those . . . winged monkeys.

As soon as he had turned his back to her, she had ducked below the yellow "Caution" tape and walked blindly into the dark hyena house. Now that she was actually safely inside, however, she was painfully aware that she should have listened to the warning. And that she hadn't entirely gotten over her fear of the dark.

I just had to go and be "noble." Where did it get me? In a dark, dank animal house looking for Xander because he's so obviously going to get his ass kicked.

Her heels made a slight clicking noise as she walked through the almost-pitch black hallway. The only light came from a few dim torches that illuminated the cages that lined the walls. At least I know where the hyenas are, she thought to herself when a quiet growl came from off to her right.

"It looks hungry," the drawl of a familiar voice echoed over the cavern-esque walls. Kyle?

The distinct sound of scuffling followed that statement before another voice spoke, "Come on, Spot! Suppertime!"

She ran towards the sounds and came upon Xander facing off with Kyle, who had been pushing Lance towards the hyena cage with the help of his friends, whatever their names were.

"Why don't you pick on someone your own species?" Xander asked, standing between Kyle and Lance.

"You're gonna get in my face?"

"I'm sorry to interrupt this testosterone-fest but the zookeeper's heading this way and he looks pissed," Buffy broke in.

Kyle barely glanced at her before he took a threatening step towards Xander. "We'll finish this some other time."

He grinned - more of a teeth-baring, really - at Lance before he turned and walked away, followed quickly by "The Monkeys."

"What the hell was that about?" Xander raged.

"Excuse me?" Buffy's eyes widened in amazement as she stared at her angry friend. "You were extremely outnumbered! Plus, let's not forget that we're surrounded by feral animals with nothing separating us but flimsy bars!"

"What? You think I can't take care of myself?"

Before she could answer, a piercing, shrill laugh permeated the air. They turned slowly, in unison, towards the unseen animal. A flash of yellow stood out in the black and,in a moment of strange synchronicity, soft peals of laughter came from Buffy and Xander.

Lance watched them in morbid fascination before turning abruptly to leave. The awkward movement caused his foot to prematurely jet out and he tripped.

"Ow," he murmured, touching his injured knee lightly.

The two teenagers that had previously ignored his presence seemed to remember he was there and slowly turned until he could see their eyes. The matching yellow glows were enough to send him running.

Laughs that were disconcertingly like that of the hyena followed him.

All of these chapters are short-ish. Just so we all know. :p