It was a beautiful, sunny California spring day. A perfect time to not be in school. Which is why, the sophomore class of Sunnydale High School was happy to on a trip the zoo, rather in class. Who wouldn't be?
Xander Harris and his friends, Buffy Summers and Willow Rosenberg were certainly enjoying it. Or Xander and Willow were. Buffy was ambivalent, until Xander gave a her different perspective, then she was enjoying it. As they walked, though, they became aware of a group of kids their age, four of them, hassling another student. Buffy moved to do something about it when Xander stopped her.
"Buffy, this doesn't require any actual Slaying. Just some bullies. I've been dealing with them for years, I've got this." And followed them into the hyena exhibit.
Buffy and Willow, though, were doubtful and moved to follow him, only to be stopped by one of the zookeepers. While he was telling them a story about hyenas and why they were dangerous, Xander was stopping the bullies from hassling Lance. It should have ended there, but something happened that would change all five of them forever, in different ways. The eyes of the hyenas suddenly glowed green. The four bullies eyes did too. But Xander's didn't. Instead, he felt a pain in his gut, there and gone between one breathe and the next and forgotten just as fast.
A gasp from behind them reminded them of Lance. The bullies turned to look at him and laughed. Xander frowned at them, as Lance got up and ran out. He rolled his eyes and now that his reason for following them into the exhibit had been dealt with, left.
Once outside, he tilted his head back and enjoyed the feeling of the sun on his face. It felt good, warm. After a moment he went looking for the girls and enjoyed the rest of the trip without any further issues.
Things started to change for Xander the next day. But it would be a while before anyone really noticed.
First they had to deal with noticing the four bullies who were behaving oddly. Then Herbert the pig was eaten, followed by Principal Flutie. Eventually, they realized the four were possessed and met to discuss how.
"When did you first notice a problem, Buffy?" Giles asked.
"Last night at the Bronze, they sniffed people. It was definitely weird."
"We'll, we've determined that they're likely possessed. It could be a demon, a spirit or an animal."
"An animal?" Willow asked.
"Yes, my research shows, there's a sect of animal worshipers that seek the animal state, because they consider it pure. They use a ritual to knowingly allow themselves to be possessed."
"I doubt the guys did this to themselves willingly." Xander said. "So that leaves someone doing it to them on purpose or it happened accidentally. Yesterday they were behaving normally, bullying Lance. I stopped them. Wait, you said animal possession is a possibility. We were at the zoo yesterday. It was in the hyena exhibit that I found them hassling Lance. What if something happened in that exhibit?"
"Wouldn't that mean you were possessed too?" Willow asked.
"Well, I haven't eaten a raw pig or principle lately, so I'm guessing not. But that doesn't mean something couldn't have happened to them there. Investigating the exhibit would be a good idea. If we find anything suspicious, we know that's where this possession happened. In the meantime, Buffy can track them down and corral them. Sound like a plan?"
"Wait, the zookeeper, yesterday. He told us a story about hyenas. That laugh! The way the bullies were laughing, it's like a hyena! I think Xander's right, whatever happened, happened at the zoo." Buffy said.
"Then let's do as Xander suggested. He, Willow and I will go to the zoo. Buffy, you lure them to the hyena exhibit. At the very least it's a place we can contain them until we dispossess them."
"Alright, I'll go look for them. Meet you there."
It didn't take long, once they arrived, to know, this was where the bullies had been possessed. A animal head was painted on the floor. Buffy raced in yelling. "They're right behind me!" As they shoved in behind her. Unfortunately, they didn't know that they weren't alone. The one responsible for this mess was there. As the bullies arrived in the circle, he struck Giles from behind and yelled. "Yu ba ya sa na!" And the eyes of the bullies glowed green, followed by the zookeepers. As the bullies scrambled to get out of the exhibit, the zookeeper attacked Buffy. She ducked reflexively and he fell over her into the pit. The hyenas, hungry as they were, tore him apart. He was beyond help.
Later, in the library, they were discussing it.
"These animal worshipers must be nuts, Giles." Xander said. "How could anyone thinks that's a better way of being?"
"I don't know, Xander. But to them, we're the crazy ones."
"Ouch. So what we are going to do about Kyle and them?"
Giles frowned, not understanding the question. "I don't understand what you mean, Xander. They're no longer possessed. There's nothing else to do."
Xander was equally confused. "What do you mean, nothing to do? Giles, they ate a person. What kind of effect is that going to have on them?"
"It is doubtful they'll even remember it, Xander. They'll be fine. The human mind forgets what it doesn't want to know."
Xander blinked, certain he would never be able to forget if it had happened to him. Later, as he walked home, it was eating at him. He had to know if they were alright. Heidi lived closest to him. He set out for her home and once there, he knocked on the door. No one answered, so he started to turn away, when he was certain he heard a whimper. He tried the knob and eased the door open. Following that faint whimper, he made his way down the hall. He stopped in front of one door and opened it. Heidi was sitting the floor with tears running down her face. She wasn't alright.