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===
Xander was at the Zoo with three women... or he would be if they hadn't disappeared.
Thinking back Xander smiled at the pleading needed for Dawns class teacher to allow her to go with him and Buffy instead of to the museum with the rest of her class.
Xander sighed for a second as he looked at the sign post pointing out the directions to the Hyena house and Elephant habitat.
Seeing the four class bullies walking up Xander let the smile slip back into place.
Kyle grinned as the group moved towards Xander "ooh look, its Xander and all his friends" he mocked as the others Snickered.
Xander smiled his best 'Shit eating' Grin and threw his arm the over air as if draping it across someone's shoulder "Yup me and bob go back a looooooong way" he said before looking at the air above his arm then back at the group "Bob thinks your boring" he said with a smirk before letting the arm drop.
"That's Funny" Tor commented as he looked at the others and grinned "Do you ever wonder why nobody cool ever wants to hang out with you?"
Xanders face took on an image of pure shock as he gasped "ooh my god... I was just thinking the same thing about you" before he smirked and looked at the other three.
Heidi sneered as the group walked past "Careful, 'Bob' might beat you up" she said with sarcasm as the group moved off for easier targets.
Watching them go Xander turned back at the sound of running feet and smiled at the small brunet Summers running down the walking path with Willow and Buffy close behind.
"Hey Dawnie, where ya been? I mean I stop to say 'Hi' to uncle Rory as he cleans the penguin cage and everyone pulls a David Copperfield on me." he said as the youngest Summers throws her arms around and smiles up at him.
Willow glared at Dawn as she hugged Xander while Buffy shrugged and answered "I took Dawn and Willow to see the Zebra's mating."
Willow looked up and smiled "Yeah you missed it, it was like the Heimlich, but with stripes!" she answered as Buffy pulled Dawn away from Xander.
Xander stared at them in shock before throwing his head back and wailing "Ooh for the love of dog WHY!" he lamented as he dropped to his knees and hung his head "Now I will never gain my lifelong hope of seeing a striped Heimlich" he moaned before looking back at the three girls and grinning "But somehow I'll find the strength to continue"
Dawn grinned and grabbed his hand as he stood up "Come on Xander, lets go see the Fish exhibit" she said as Buffy moaned.
Xander stared at the blond and oddly "What's up Buffy, you don't sound exited" he said as Buffy returned the odd look.
"Xander, there Fishes" she said as the four moved down the walking path.
Xander looked down at Dawn and smiled "You know, I get the feeling Buffy's not in the field trip spirit here"
Buffy sighed. "Well, it's just... It's nothing, I... We used to do the same zoo trip at my old school every year. Same old, same old."
Xander gasped. "Buffy, this isn't just about looking at a bunch of animals. This is about not being in class!"
Buffy looked up and nodded her head with a small smile. "You know, you're right! Suddenly the animals look shiny and new."
Xander smiled as he looked at Willow "I Guess she saw something special at the Zebra's." he said and laughed as Willow turned a bright red and Buffy turned around and jabbed a nail into his Chest making him stumble back.
"Xander you're not allowed to talk like that around Dawn." Buffy growled as Xander rubbed the sore spot. "You be careful Mister or I'll tell mom and she won't invite you over for food again." she threatened.
Xander stared in shock at the comment "you... you would black mail me with food?" he said before he thought about the situation for a second "That's just evil Buff, where's a mighty Slayer to Vanquish this evil" he moaned as Dawn just smiled up at him.
"Don't worry Xander, if she does that I'll make sure mom gets the Copies I made of her Diary" she said before hiding behind Xander as Buffy glared in rage.
Willow intercepted the Argument as she tapped on Buffy's shoulder and pointed down the walk. "What are Kyle and his buds doing with Lance?"
Xander turned around to see the last one go into the entrance. "Oh, playing with him as a cat plays with a mouse."
Buffy sighed. "What is it with those guys?"
Willow smiled at being able to stop a fight. "They're obnoxious. Professionally."
Xander shrugged. "Well, every school has 'em. So, you start a new school, you got your desks, your teachers, some blackboards, and some mean kids."
Buffy sighed and took a step forward. "Yeah, well, I'd better extract Lance before..."
Xander put a hand on her shoulder and interrupted her. "I'll handle it. This job doesn't require actual slaying."
As Xander walked away, Buffy turned to her sister and best friend. "You don't think we should follow?"
Willow shrugged her shoulders. "Kyle and those guys are jerks, but they're all talk...mostly."
Buffy quickly turned back to face the Exhibit. "Why don't we..."
Willow and Dawn nodded. "Yeah, why don't we?"
They started walking over to the entrance before a zookeeper walked out in front of them. "Oh, hold it, hold it, are you blind, or are you just illiterate?" the man pointed to a sign labeled 'Quarantine: Do Not Enter.'
Buffy looked around quickly for a way to escape. "Oh, w-we were just going to..."
The zookeeper shook his head and turned the girls around. "You're not going in there. Anyone that does is in a world of trouble."
Buffy looked up at him. "Why is it off-limits?"
The zookeeper pointed back to the sign. "It's quarantine. We just got these Jaguars in from Africa, so keep out" The man leaned forward and whispered menacingly. "Even if they whisper your name."
Buffy and Willow exchanged looks "What are you talking about?"
The zookeeper sighed and walked alongside her back to the main walkway. "The Incan Shaman texts write that the Black Jaguars are capable of understanding human speech. They are very protective of each other, especially there cubs. They say they follow you into your dreams and learn you darkest secrets and fears. At night, when the campfire dies, they call out to a person whispering words to draw them away. Once they separate him, they trail them along, always out of reach until you're so lost and confused no one can hear you. Then they move in and..." The man snapped his fingers together before smiling and walking off.
Buffy looked back at Willow before the two shake off the feeling crawling up there spine "Now Dawn don't have any nightmares tonight or mom will" Buffy stopped as she looked around "Willow, where's Dawn?"
==
Lance walked tentatively up to the guardrail and bars separating the Feline exhibit. He turned around to face the group. "I don't see any Jaguars."
A loud growl emanated from behind him. Lance screamed spun around, nearly tripping himself. "Okay! Now we've seen it."
The Leopards growled and walked slowly towards them as a large Black Panther stepped up on the rock and got comfortable. One of the girls stepped forward and said, "Awww, he's so cute!"
Kyle and the Tor walk up on opposite sides of Lance. "I think they look hungry. What do you think Tor?"
The other brunette nodded. "Yep, I think they need a snack."
Both lunge at Lance and grab him by the arms and shoulders. Lance screamed. "NO!!!!"
Tor covered Lance's mouth from behind with one of his hands. "Here Kitty Kitty Kitty!"
Lance tried to fight back but was overpowered by the two larger teens.
One of the Girls smiled and shouted. "Its okay, Auntie Rhonda's got a little treat for you!"
The two guys smirk and drag him up the steps. Stepping over the guard rails they press him up against the bars. "Ow! Stop it! It's not funny!"
"Let him go assholes!" Xander growled from the entrance as he stormed in and stepped over the railing as Tor shoved Lance away and Kyle glared at Xander.
The large cats seemed to be getting nervous as the paced back and forth while the large Black Panther just sat on a rock and stared at the teens.
Kyle smirked as Tor joined him by his side. He turned back to Xander. "What, you think you wanna play hero?"
Xanders reply was cut off by a scream as Rhonda pulled Dawn out of the shadows.
"Well look what we have here, a snack before the main course" she leered as Kyle and Tor moved between Xander and her.
Xander glared past the two men at Rhonda as Dawn struggled to escape, he had just resigned himself to a futile attack on the two in an attempt to free Dawn when a heavy cough from behind him drew his attention away.
Turning around Xander looked into the eyes of the Hugh panther as it sat on the rock watching the altercation. With a heavy pressure Xander felt something else enter his body.
He was unable to stop it as he turned around and glared at the three.
Xander was at the Zoo with three women... or he would be if they hadn't disappeared.
Thinking back Xander smiled at the pleading needed for Dawns class teacher to allow her to go with him and Buffy instead of to the museum with the rest of her class.
Xander sighed for a second as he looked at the sign post pointing out the directions to the Hyena house and Elephant habitat.
Seeing the four class bullies walking up Xander let the smile slip back into place.
Kyle grinned as the group moved towards Xander "ooh look, its Xander and all his friends" he mocked as the others Snickered.
Xander smiled his best 'Shit eating' Grin and threw his arm the over air as if draping it across someone's shoulder "Yup me and bob go back a looooooong way" he said before looking at the air above his arm then back at the group "Bob thinks your boring" he said with a smirk before letting the arm drop.
"That's Funny" Tor commented as he looked at the others and grinned "Do you ever wonder why nobody cool ever wants to hang out with you?"
Xanders face took on an image of pure shock as he gasped "ooh my god... I was just thinking the same thing about you" before he smirked and looked at the other three.
Heidi sneered as the group walked past "Careful, 'Bob' might beat you up" she said with sarcasm as the group moved off for easier targets.
Watching them go Xander turned back at the sound of running feet and smiled at the small brunet Summers running down the walking path with Willow and Buffy close behind.
"Hey Dawnie, where ya been? I mean I stop to say 'Hi' to uncle Rory as he cleans the penguin cage and everyone pulls a David Copperfield on me." he said as the youngest Summers throws her arms around and smiles up at him.
Willow glared at Dawn as she hugged Xander while Buffy shrugged and answered "I took Dawn and Willow to see the Zebra's mating."
Willow looked up and smiled "Yeah you missed it, it was like the Heimlich, but with stripes!" she answered as Buffy pulled Dawn away from Xander.
Xander stared at them in shock before throwing his head back and wailing "Ooh for the love of dog WHY!" he lamented as he dropped to his knees and hung his head "Now I will never gain my lifelong hope of seeing a striped Heimlich" he moaned before looking back at the three girls and grinning "But somehow I'll find the strength to continue"
Dawn grinned and grabbed his hand as he stood up "Come on Xander, lets go see the Fish exhibit" she said as Buffy moaned.
Xander stared at the blond and oddly "What's up Buffy, you don't sound exited" he said as Buffy returned the odd look.
"Xander, there Fishes" she said as the four moved down the walking path.
Xander looked down at Dawn and smiled "You know, I get the feeling Buffy's not in the field trip spirit here"
Buffy sighed. "Well, it's just... It's nothing, I... We used to do the same zoo trip at my old school every year. Same old, same old."
Xander gasped. "Buffy, this isn't just about looking at a bunch of animals. This is about not being in class!"
Buffy looked up and nodded her head with a small smile. "You know, you're right! Suddenly the animals look shiny and new."
Xander smiled as he looked at Willow "I Guess she saw something special at the Zebra's." he said and laughed as Willow turned a bright red and Buffy turned around and jabbed a nail into his Chest making him stumble back.
"Xander you're not allowed to talk like that around Dawn." Buffy growled as Xander rubbed the sore spot. "You be careful Mister or I'll tell mom and she won't invite you over for food again." she threatened.
Xander stared in shock at the comment "you... you would black mail me with food?" he said before he thought about the situation for a second "That's just evil Buff, where's a mighty Slayer to Vanquish this evil" he moaned as Dawn just smiled up at him.
"Don't worry Xander, if she does that I'll make sure mom gets the Copies I made of her Diary" she said before hiding behind Xander as Buffy glared in rage.
Willow intercepted the Argument as she tapped on Buffy's shoulder and pointed down the walk. "What are Kyle and his buds doing with Lance?"
Xander turned around to see the last one go into the entrance. "Oh, playing with him as a cat plays with a mouse."
Buffy sighed. "What is it with those guys?"
Willow smiled at being able to stop a fight. "They're obnoxious. Professionally."
Xander shrugged. "Well, every school has 'em. So, you start a new school, you got your desks, your teachers, some blackboards, and some mean kids."
Buffy sighed and took a step forward. "Yeah, well, I'd better extract Lance before..."
Xander put a hand on her shoulder and interrupted her. "I'll handle it. This job doesn't require actual slaying."
As Xander walked away, Buffy turned to her sister and best friend. "You don't think we should follow?"
Willow shrugged her shoulders. "Kyle and those guys are jerks, but they're all talk...mostly."
Buffy quickly turned back to face the Exhibit. "Why don't we..."
Willow and Dawn nodded. "Yeah, why don't we?"
They started walking over to the entrance before a zookeeper walked out in front of them. "Oh, hold it, hold it, are you blind, or are you just illiterate?" the man pointed to a sign labeled 'Quarantine: Do Not Enter.'
Buffy looked around quickly for a way to escape. "Oh, w-we were just going to..."
The zookeeper shook his head and turned the girls around. "You're not going in there. Anyone that does is in a world of trouble."
Buffy looked up at him. "Why is it off-limits?"
The zookeeper pointed back to the sign. "It's quarantine. We just got these Jaguars in from Africa, so keep out" The man leaned forward and whispered menacingly. "Even if they whisper your name."
Buffy and Willow exchanged looks "What are you talking about?"
The zookeeper sighed and walked alongside her back to the main walkway. "The Incan Shaman texts write that the Black Jaguars are capable of understanding human speech. They are very protective of each other, especially there cubs. They say they follow you into your dreams and learn you darkest secrets and fears. At night, when the campfire dies, they call out to a person whispering words to draw them away. Once they separate him, they trail them along, always out of reach until you're so lost and confused no one can hear you. Then they move in and..." The man snapped his fingers together before smiling and walking off.
Buffy looked back at Willow before the two shake off the feeling crawling up there spine "Now Dawn don't have any nightmares tonight or mom will" Buffy stopped as she looked around "Willow, where's Dawn?"
==
Lance walked tentatively up to the guardrail and bars separating the Feline exhibit. He turned around to face the group. "I don't see any Jaguars."
A loud growl emanated from behind him. Lance screamed spun around, nearly tripping himself. "Okay! Now we've seen it."
The Leopards growled and walked slowly towards them as a large Black Panther stepped up on the rock and got comfortable. One of the girls stepped forward and said, "Awww, he's so cute!"
Kyle and the Tor walk up on opposite sides of Lance. "I think they look hungry. What do you think Tor?"
The other brunette nodded. "Yep, I think they need a snack."
Both lunge at Lance and grab him by the arms and shoulders. Lance screamed. "NO!!!!"
Tor covered Lance's mouth from behind with one of his hands. "Here Kitty Kitty Kitty!"
Lance tried to fight back but was overpowered by the two larger teens.
One of the Girls smiled and shouted. "Its okay, Auntie Rhonda's got a little treat for you!"
The two guys smirk and drag him up the steps. Stepping over the guard rails they press him up against the bars. "Ow! Stop it! It's not funny!"
"Let him go assholes!" Xander growled from the entrance as he stormed in and stepped over the railing as Tor shoved Lance away and Kyle glared at Xander.
The large cats seemed to be getting nervous as the paced back and forth while the large Black Panther just sat on a rock and stared at the teens.
Kyle smirked as Tor joined him by his side. He turned back to Xander. "What, you think you wanna play hero?"
Xanders reply was cut off by a scream as Rhonda pulled Dawn out of the shadows.
"Well look what we have here, a snack before the main course" she leered as Kyle and Tor moved between Xander and her.
Xander glared past the two men at Rhonda as Dawn struggled to escape, he had just resigned himself to a futile attack on the two in an attempt to free Dawn when a heavy cough from behind him drew his attention away.
Turning around Xander looked into the eyes of the Hugh panther as it sat on the rock watching the altercation. With a heavy pressure Xander felt something else enter his body.
He was unable to stop it as he turned around and glared at the three.