Chapter 23: The Pack - Part 1

The sun was shining brightly over Sunnydale High School, but the cheerful weather did little to mask the underlying tension that always seemed to hover over the town. Cyrus Knight strolled through the bustling hallways, heading towards his first class. His mind was still on the recent events—facing down the She-Mantis with Buffy, and the unsettling reports about his activities reaching the Master's ears. But today, he hoped, would be relatively normal.

As Cyrus approached the science lab, he saw Buffy, Willow, and Xander gathered near the door, deep in conversation. He joined them, offering a nod of greeting.

"Morning, guys. What's up?" Cyrus asked, his curiosity piqued by their serious expressions.

"Morning, Cyrus," Buffy replied, her voice tinged with concern. "We were just talking about the field trip today. We're going to the zoo."

"The zoo?" Cyrus raised an eyebrow. "Why does that sound like a recipe for disaster in Sunnydale?"

Willow shrugged. "It's supposed to be a fun, educational trip. But knowing our luck, something weird is bound to happen."

Xander grinned, trying to lighten the mood. "Come on, it's just a trip to see some animals. How bad can it be?"

Buffy and Cyrus exchanged a knowing glance. They had both learned that in Sunnydale, anything could happen—and usually did.

---

Later that morning, the students of Sunnydale High boarded the buses that would take them to the zoo. Cyrus found a seat next to Buffy, while Willow and Xander sat across the aisle. As the bus rumbled towards its destination, they chatted about the latest homework assignments and the upcoming weekend.

Arriving at the zoo, the students were herded into groups by their teachers. Cyrus ended up in the same group as Buffy, Xander, Willow, and a few others. Their guide, a middle-aged zookeeper with a bushy mustache, began leading them through the exhibits.

As they approached the hyena exhibit, the guide paused, pointing out the animals lounging in the shade. "These are spotted hyenas," he explained. "They're known for their powerful jaws and complex social structures. Hyenas are often misunderstood creatures."

Cyrus watched the hyenas with fascination. Their eyes seemed almost intelligent. But as he turned to say something to Buffy, he noticed a commotion nearby.

A group of bullies—led by Kyle, one of the school's notorious troublemakers—had cornered a smaller student, taunting him mercilessly.

"Hey, leave him alone!" Xander shouted, stepping forward. 

Kyle sneered. "Mind your own business, Harris."

Cyrus moved to stand beside Xander. "He's right. Back off."

Kyle's eyes narrowed, and he took a step towards Cyrus. But before the situation could escalate, their guide intervened. "Enough, all of you! This is not the place for fighting. You four—Kyle, Rhonda, Tor, and Heidi—come with me. We're going to the principal's office when we get back."

The bullies glared but followed the guide reluctantly. Cyrus and Xander helped the smaller student to his feet, who thanked them before hurrying off to rejoin his group.

"That was intense," Buffy said, her eyes scanning the area. "Let's hope that's the most excitement we get today."

Cyrus nodded, though he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that had settled in his gut. The group continued their tour, but the encounter with Kyle and his gang lingered in the back of his mind.

---

Later, as the group reconvened near the entrance, Cyrus noticed Kyle and his friends sneaking away from the main path. Curiosity and concern got the better of him.

"Hey, look at them." he whispered.

They turned to see the bullies slipping through a gate marked "No Entry." 

"What are they up to?" Willow asked, frowning.

"Nothing good, I'm sure," Buffy replied. "We should check it out."

The four friends followed at a distance, careful not to be seen. The path led them to a dark, secluded area of the zoo, where the air felt heavier, more oppressive. They watched as Kyle and the others entered a small, unmarked building.

"This feels wrong," Cyrus said, his instincts on high alert.

Buffy nodded. "Let's see what they're up to."

They approached the building quietly, peering through the windows. Inside, they saw Kyle and his gang standing in front of a large, intricately painted hyena mural. The air seemed to shimmer around them, and a strange chanting filled the room.

"What are they doing?" Xander whispered.

Before anyone could respond, the ground beneath them began to tremble. A gust of wind blew through the building, and the mural seemed to come alive. The hyenas' eyes glowed, and a wave of dark energy washed over Kyle and his friends. They collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Cyrus, Buffy, and Willow exchanged alarmed glances. "We need to get them out of there," Buffy said, her voice urgent.

As they rushed inside to help, a similar wave of energy enveloped Xander, who had stepped too close to the mural. He fell to the ground, unconscious like the others.

"Xander!" Willow cried, kneeling beside him.

Buffy and Cyrus hoisted the unconscious students onto their shoulders and carried them outside. The strange energy dissipated, but a sense of unease lingered in the air.

---

Back at the school, the bullies and Xander gradually regained consciousness. They seemed disoriented at first, but soon their behavior took a sinister turn. Kyle, Rhonda, Tor, Heidi, and even Xander were no longer their usual selves—they had become more aggressive, more predatory.

Buffy, Cyrus, and Willow watched with growing concern as the transformed students began to terrorize their classmates. It was clear that whatever had happened at the zoo had changed them, and not for the better.

"We need to find out what's going on," Willow said, her voice trembling. "This isn't normal."

"Agreed," Cyrus replied.

They made their way to the library, where Giles was busy sorting through a new shipment of books. He looked up as they entered, his expression shifting from curiosity to concern as he took in their worried faces.

"What's the matter?" Giles asked, setting down the book he was holding.

Buffy quickly explained what had happened at the zoo, describing the strange ritual and the students' transformation. Giles listened intently, his brow furrowing in thought.

"This sounds like a form of possession," Giles said finally. "The hyena spirits may have taken control of them."

"Hyena spirits?" Willow echoed, her eyes wide. "That sounds... bad."

Giles nodded. "Indeed. Hyenas are known for their cunning and ferocity. If these spirits have truly possessed your classmates, they could become extremely dangerous."

"What do we do?" Buffy asked, her voice steady despite the gravity of the situation.

Giles rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "We need to research the ritual they performed and find a way to reverse it. In the meantime, you should keep a close eye on them. Make sure they don't hurt anyone."

"Got it," Cyrus said, his resolve firm. "We'll take shifts watching them."

The group spent the rest of the afternoon poring over books and researching possession rituals. As the sun began to set, they had gathered some useful information but still had a long way to go.

Buffy, Willow, and Cyrus headed home for the night, promising to return first thing in the morning.