C8

The students of Sunnydale High School were herded off on an annual field trip to the Sunnydale Zoo. Amid the chatter and excitement, Brooke found herself being taunted by a group of bullies who had latched onto the fact that she had been expelled from her previous school due to violent tendencies. As if their mockery wasn't enough, they shifted their attention to another student, Lance, cruelly suggesting that a zoo visit was akin to a family reunion for him. Principal Hatcher interrupted the bullying but Lance, intimidated, didn't stand up to them, which only emboldened them further.While all this unfolded, Brooke was joined by Steve and Willow, who expressed their excitement about the field trip. Brooke, initially indifferent, was reminded by Steve that it wasn’t just about seeing animals, but also about missing school—a sentiment that lightened her mood slightly.The bullies, along with a reluctant Lance, decided to explore the off-limits hyena exhibit. Sensing trouble, Brooke offered to intervene, but Steve insisted on handling it himself, as it didn’t seem to require her Slayer abilities. However, as Steve entered the exhibit, Brooke and Willow were stopped by the zookeeper, Dr. Weirick, who warned them about the quarantine and shared eerie tales of how hyenas in ancient myths could mimic human voices to deceive and devour them.Inside the exhibit, the bullies' antics took a dangerous turn as they tried to throw Lance into the hyena pit. Steve stepped in just in time, but as they stood on a tribal hyena symbol, a strange transformation occurred. The bullies, including Steve, seemed to be possessed by an animalistic energy, leaving Lance the only one unaffected who fled in fear.The next day, Brooke and Willow were waiting at The Bronze, eagerly anticipating Steve's arrival. Willow, clearly infatuated with Steve, tried to reassure Brooke about her own romantic interests, particularly in the enigmatic Angel. When Steve finally arrived, his behavior was off—he was more aggressive, snatching food without asking, and making crude remarks. His demeanor had changed, and he even laughed at the bullies' cruel jokes, which was unlike him.At Sunnydale High, during gym class, Coach Herrold had the students play dodgeball. Brooke, Willow, and Steve ended up on opposing teams. The game took a dark turn as Steve and the bullies targeted their own teammate, Lance, instead of Brooke, showing a predatory pack mentality.Willow confronted Steve about his behavior, but he dismissed her, saying he no longer needed her tutoring, hurting her deeply. Brooke, sensing something was terribly wrong, decided to seek Giles's help, the expert on all things supernatural.Despite Brooke’s concerns, Giles initially dismissed Steve's behavior as typical teenage boy aggression. However, when Willow reported that the pack had eaten Herbert, the school mascot pig, Giles's skepticism waned, and he began researching.Meanwhile, Principal Hatcher summoned the other bullies to his office, but instead of disciplining them, he became their next victim. They attacked him in a horrific display of their new feral instincts.Giles's research led him to the Primals, a cult that believed in transferring animal spirits into humans to reach a sacred state. Realizing the danger, Brooke and Giles sought out Dr. Weirick for answers. The zookeeper revealed that the hyenas were indeed a vicious breed worshiped by the Primals and hinted at a method to reverse the possession.Back at the school, Steve's aggression peaked as he confronted Brooke in the faculty room. A fierce struggle ensued, with Steve trying to overpower her. Brooke managed to knock him out and locked him in the library’s book cage.Brooke and Giles returned to the zookeeper, who revealed his true intentions—he wanted the hyena spirits for himself. He attacked Giles and used Willow as bait to lure the pack back to the zoo. Brooke, leading the pack, arrived just in time to see the ritual commence. The spirits were drawn out of the students and into the zookeeper, transforming him into a dangerous predator.In the ensuing chaos, Brooke fought the zookeeper, accidentally knocking him into the hyena pit where he met a gruesome end. The possession broken, the other students fled, their memories hazy about the events.The next day, Steve, horrified by what he had done while possessed, feigned amnesia. He asked Giles to keep his actions a secret. Brooke and Willow, relieved but wary, moved on, knowing that Sunnydale was a place where the line between human and beast was often blurred.